Wallboard joint structure



March 23, 1943.A A. s. sPEER K wALLBoARD JOINT STRUCTURE Filed July 1o, 1941 Patented Mar. 23,1943

, UNITED STATES PATENT F F ICE 2,314,523 y n wALLnoAnn .rontr s'rnucrcaa Alexander s.v speer, Banale, N. Y. Application Julyl, 1941, Serial No. 401,751

6 Claims.

This inventionv relates generally to the art of building construction, but more particularly to a novel means for concealingthe joints between wallboards and like unit or sectional wall structures.

It has for one of its objects to provide an improved tape for application over thefabutting joints of wallboards which, while of a minimum thickness, possesses maximum strength to resist rupture and prevent the formation of cracks, and which provides a smooth, fiat, non-bulging surface across the joints which can be effectually concealed by any of the usual coatings or surface 4coverings applied to such lwallboard for decorative purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jointing means of this character which is so designed as to render its application simple and permit its installation in a minimum period' of time, and which is further so constituted that air pockets and wrinkling are eliminated.

A further object is to provide a concealing or treating tape for wallboard joints which consists Aof a composite fibrous structure of paper and cloth fabric so disposed in overlying relation Yas to form a smooth and strong, yet yieldable,` joint which is crackproof under all climatic conditions, and'wherein the cloth prevents the creeping and vexpansion of the paper and the paper f 4prevents the cloth from wrinkling, both'elements being adhered to each other and the joint filler y employed over the tape acting on the composite structure to 'eil'ectually secure it over the joint in a rm, at condition and as an integral part of the joint filler when set or dry.

'A still further object of the invention is to provide a composite paper and cloth tape for sectional wall structures wherein the cloth forms a protective and reinforcing shield for the margins of the paper, and wherein the paper as well as the cloth has perforations therein which not only prevent the formation of air pockets between the tape and the wall structure but which also add to the holding qualities of the joint iiller in securely anchoring the tape in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape of this character which is so designed that it can be not only applied to surface joints but with equal eiectivenessvto corner joints.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view structure.

showing my improved wallboard joint concealing structure or tape. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section thereof taken on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion 'of the tape. Figure 4 is a cross section of a slightly modiiied form of the tape Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawing, I0 indicates sections of wallboard secured to a stud II and disposed in abutting relation to form the joint I2 to which my improved joint structure is adapted to be applied. This joint concealing structure is in the form of a tape or ribbon and by preference, the opposingfmarginal faces of the wallboard paralleling its joint edges may be `slightly recessed or indented, as indicated at Il,

and the joint-concealing tape is applied in registering relation over this recess.

In the preferred construction of my jointtreating 'or concealing tape, it consists of a compositeA brous structure composed of paper and cloth strips I4 and I 5, respectively, which are disposed in overlying relation to each other by gluing or otherwise. These strips are comparatively thin, the paper strip being calendered down to about .006 or .007y of an inch and the combined thickness of both strips not exceeding .012 of an inch. The cloth strip I5 is made of a vwide mesh cloth, such as cotton, and it is somewhat'wider than the companion paper strip I4 so that the cloth extends beyond the marginal side edges of the paper strip to prevent its cracking and to provide protective and reinforcing margins I6 for such paper strip. The cloth strip, furthermore, ispreferably starched or otherwise treated to stiifen and give it body and cause it to lie flat and smooth when applied to 4 the joint being treated. To prevent the cloth strip unraveling at the edges, it may be suitably impregnated along the margins thereof or it may be folded over along its side edges, as indicated at I1, in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 2, the tape-receiving recess Il across the wallboard Joint is substantially the same width as that of the cloth strip, and the latter provides a feather edge for the tape.

'I'he paper strip I 4, which underlies the cloth strip and lies face down when applied to the joint, is made of a kraft or manila paper having a transverse tensile strength of at least pounds to the inch and may be serrated at its edges, as indicated at I8. 'I'his paper strip' is also provided with perforatlons II and these perforations are preferably' larger than the mesh openings of the cloth strip so that ycertain of. the strands of the-cloth strip span vor intersectV the paper perforations and function as keysor interconnecting webs-in securing the'tape to the-joint in the manner hereinafter described. These perforations permit the -escape of air from between the tape and the wallboard and eliminate the formation of air pockets.

This tape is designed not only to the surface joints of wallboards but also to for application asiq-sas corner joints, and for thispurpose the paper strip H is provided with a pre-'formed crease or folding bead which extends lengthwise and substantially centrally thereof to facilitate the folding of the tape when applying it to corner joints.

it. As the tape is applied, the ller voozes or protrudes through the holes and the paper aswell as the interstices of the cloth notched edges in in a more or less mushroom rfashion to thereby i' rmly and effectually secure the tape overthe joint Vwith the tape itself embeddedv in and constituting a unitary part. of the filler. The protruding porti-ons of the filler may be then smoothed over by troweling. The cloth `strip is rendered soft under theinfluence of the ller and not only makes'for a good bond across the joint but also causes the cloth to flatten down vand in eiect forms an integral part of the joint filler. After the tape is set a light illler is then applied thereto. The tape-receiving recess i3 in the wall- 'board is comparatively shallow and after` applica- 'tion of the tape the same'is free from bulgeszand is substantially flush with Vthe surface of thewailboard so that when the .latter istreated with any awhile manifestly simpnstmng, arid herpes; sive in'construction; this improved tape canfbe 'ap- 2 plied in arninimum period of time, land 'when applied it is freefrom wrinkles and blisters .and is crack-proof. Furthermore, the same can be apstructure overcomes the mansv objectionsanddisadvantageszto the tapes heretofore usedin wall- 'board construction. y

'I claim as my invention: v "1. A tape for concealing the joints Aof .wally of the `usual surface coverings for dec-orative;pur i poses the iointgas well asthe joint-treating tape "1 is effectually concealed. Y f

.55* plied iri dry or moist Weather and its composite boards, comp inga compositenbrous structure composed ofroverlying. adhering strips of perroratedrpaper'andwide mesheloth, the cloth strip being disposed over -and .being wider ,than the paper :stripto provide `reinlorcingand protecting marginsfor the edges of the paper.

2. A tape for concealing the joints .of wallboards, comprising -a composite fibrous structure ,composed ,of overlying, adhering strips ci perforated paper .and wide mesh cloth, the paper strip being disposed beneath the cloth strip for direct-engagement with the joint and having seri rations at its edges, and the cloth strip overhanging the edges of said paper strip to provide protective margins therefor.

3. In a wallbo'ard construction,v the combination with the wallboards arranged inabuttiug re- `lation tcform a `joint, of a Jointing element extending along said joint and composed of overlying stripsy of paper and cloth, the paper strip lying next to the joint and the cloth strip extending over and beyond the marginaledges of the `paper strip.

4In a Wallboard construction, the combination-with the wallboards arranged in abutting relation'to form .a`joint`, of a :lointing element extending? along said `joint and composed of overlying strips'of paper "and cloth, the paper strip lying `next to. the joint ,Wand having perforations therein and the clothstrip. extending over and beyondthejmarginal-edges of the paper strip to protect its edgesagainst curling and to provide a 'featheredgefor the `:lointing element.

'5. In 4a 4vvallboard construction, the combinationwiththe wallboards arranged in abutting relation to vform ajoint. of a jointing element ex- 'tending-alongsaid Ajoint and composed of overlying strips of paper and cloth arranged in adhering relation, the paperv strip `lying next to the joint and vhaving a...preformed folding bead extending lengthwise thereof, Yand the cloth strip extending overandbeyond'the marginal edges of the paper strip.

6.1Ina wall lstr.ucture,;the combination of walllboards having abutting edges'to form a joint and v,having/a..sha.llow `recess in the tace thereof paralleling-itsiointedged-and a tape. applied tosaid Joint/.in register l.with said recess and composed of,an',overlyingstripof perforated paper and .f clothfhe, paper fly'ingjnext .tothe ,joint and the' fclothjexte'nding overand beyond the marginal edges-ofi the :papenatozprotect such edges against` curling rand :provide 5a feather' edge for the tape,-

some of thestrands of: the cloth strip intersecting the perforations ofpthe. paper strip, the tape be `ing secured to thewallfby a-nllerfand being em- .beddedmthe "ller 'and Yforming an integral vpart thereof.

v ALEXANDER s. sensa. 

